Raphael Onyedika was sent off as Club Brugge suffered a 3-2 loss away to Fiorentina in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
The game started with Riccardo Sottil putting La Viola ahead in the fifth minute before Hans Vanaken equalised for Brugge from the penalty spot 12 minutes later.
Fiorentina were however back ahead eight minutes to the end of the first half through AS Roma loanee Andrea Belotti.
Onyedika was the first major highlight of the second half as he received two yellow cards in the space of the three minutes and was given his marching orders.
It was a bad moment for the Nigerian who was recently awarded Club Brugge’s player of the month for April.
Onyedika is sent off after a second yellow card. #ACFCLU | 2 – 1 | ⏱️ ’62
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) May 2, 2024
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Brugge were still able to level moments after Onyedika’s dismissal thanks to Igor Thiago.
The Belgian outfit were however unable to hold on as Angola’s M’bala Nzola came off the bench to net the winner for Fiorentina in added time.
Club Brugge will now hope to make home advantage count without Onyedika in next Thursday’s return leg.
